Video transmitting apparatus, video transmitting method, video receiving apparatus, video receiving method, and video transmitting-receiving apparatus

Abstract

A video transmitting-receiving apparatus has a simple configuration to transmit and receive high-quality video via two-way communication between 50 Hz and 60 Hz regions. A 50 Hz-60 Hz arrangement unit determines whether an operating frequency of a receiving-side video transmitting-receiving apparatus is 50 Hz or 60 Hz from received information. The 50 Hz-60 Hz arrangement unit obtains an operating frequency of a transmitting-side transmitting-receiving apparatus from a display unit (or an input unit) and determines whether the transmitting-side frequency is the same as the receiving-side frequency. When the frequencies are the same, a coding unit codes interlaced video outputted from the input unit. When the frequencies are different, the coding unit codes progressive video obtained by IP conversion of the input unit and generates a progressive video stream. A transmission unit transmits, to the receiving side, the coded stream and information indicating the transmitting-side frequency.

1 - 12 . (canceled) 
     
     
         13 . A video transmitting apparatus comprising:
 an input unit configured to receive interlaced video captured by a predetermined image pickup device and output video in a predetermined image format;   a receiving unit configured to receive, from a video receiving apparatus to which the received interlaced video is to be transmitted, frequency information indicating a picture frequency representing the number of pictures displayed per unit time by the video receiving apparatus, each of the pictures being (i) a top field or a bottom field that is included in interlaced video or (ii) a frame included in progressive video;   an arrangement unit configured to determine whether the picture frequency of the received interlaced video is a same as the picture frequency indicated by the frequency information received from the video receiving apparatus;   a coding unit configured to code the video outputted from the input unit to generate a stream; and   a transmission unit configured to transmit the generated stream to the video receiving apparatus,   wherein the picture frequency indicates whether the video receiving apparatus is for a 50 Hz television system or a 60 Hz television system, and   the input unit is configured to (i) convert the received interlaced video into progressive video and output the progressive video when the arrangement unit determines that the picture frequency of the received interlaced video is different from the picture frequency indicated by the frequency information received from the video receiving apparatus, and (ii) output the received interlaced video with no change when the arrangement unit determines that the picture frequency of the received interlaced video is the same as the picture frequency indicated by the frequency information received from the video receiving apparatus.   
     
     
         14 . The video transmitting apparatus according to  claim 13 ,
 wherein, when converting the interlaced video into the progressive video, the input unit is configured to convert the interlaced video into the progressive video while maintaining the picture frequency of the interlaced video.   
     
     
         15 . The video transmitting apparatus according to  claim 13 ,
 wherein the arrangement unit is further configured to determine whether one of a user input and a state of a communication channel satisfies a predetermined condition, when determining that the picture frequency of the video received by the video transmitting apparatus is the same as the picture frequency indicated by the frequency information received from the video receiving apparatus, and   the input unit is configured to convert the interlaced video into the progressive video when the arrangement unit determines that the predetermined condition is satisfied.   
     
     
         16 . The video transmitting apparatus according to  claim 13 ,
 wherein the receiving unit is configured to receive pieces of frequency information each of which is from a different one of a plurality of video receiving apparatuses, and   the input unit is configured to convert the interlaced video into the progressive video when the arrangement unit determines that at least one of the picture frequencies indicated by the pieces of frequency information received from the video receiving apparatuses is different from the picture frequency of the video received by the video transmitting apparatus.   
     
     
         17 . The video transmitting apparatus according to  claim 13 ,
 wherein, when converting the interlaced video into the progressive video, the input unit is further configured to reduce the number of pixels included in each of frames of the progressive video in order for the number of pixels per second of the progressive video obtained by the conversion to be smaller than or equal to the number of pixels per second of the interlaced video before the conversion.   
     
     
         18 . The video transmitting apparatus according to  claim 13 ,
 wherein, when converting the interlaced video into the progressive video, the input unit is further configured to reduce the number of frames of the progressive video in order for the number of pixels per second of the progressive video obtained by the conversion to be smaller than or equal to the number of pixels per second of the interlaced video before the conversion.   
     
     
         19 . The video transmitting apparatus according to  claim 13 , further comprising
 a mode setting holding unit configured to hold a mode setting of a coding mode, the mode setting being set by a user and including image quality specification,   wherein the input unit is configured to:   (i) convert the interlaced video into the progressive video and reduce the number of frames of the progressive video in order for the number of pixels per second of the progressive video obtained by the conversion to be smaller than or equal to the number of pixels per second of the interlaced video before the conversion, when the image quality specification included in the held mode setting does not indicate motion priority;   (ii) output the interlaced video with no change, when the image quality specification included in the held mode setting indicates motion priority and the arrangement unit determines the picture frequencies are the same; and   (iii) convert the interlaced video into the progressive video, reduce the number of pixels included in each of frames of the progressive video in order for the number of pixels per second of the progressive video obtained by the conversion to be smaller than or equal to the number of pixels per second of the interlaced video before the conversion, and output the resulting progressive video, when the image quality specification included in the held mode setting indicates motion priority and the arrangement unit determines the picture frequencies are different from each other.   
     
     
         20 . A video receiving apparatus which receives a video stream from a video transmitting apparatus and outputs video obtained by decoding the received video stream, the video receiving apparatus comprising:
 a display unit configured to display the video obtained by the decoding;   a frequency obtainment unit configured to obtain whether a picture frequency representing the number of pictures displayed per unit time by the display unit corresponds to a 50 Hz television system or a 60 Hz television system, and to generate frequency information indicating the obtained picture frequency, each of the pictures being (i) a top field or a bottom field that is included in interlaced video or (ii) a frame included in progressive video;   a transmission unit configured to transmit the generated frequency information to the video transmitting apparatus; and   a decoding unit configured to receive, from the video transmitting apparatus, a video stream coded by the video transmitting apparatus based on the transmitted frequency information, and to decode the received video stream,   wherein the display unit is configured to output the video obtained by the decoding performed by the decoding unit.   
     
     
         21 . A video transmitting-receiving apparatus serving as both: a second video transmitting apparatus that codes interlaced video and transmits the coded interlaced video to a first video receiving apparatus; and a second video receiving apparatus that receives a video stream from a first video transmitting apparatus, decodes the received video stream, and outputs the decoded video stream, the video transmitting-receiving apparatus comprising:
 an input unit configured to receive interlaced video captured by a predetermined image pickup device and output video in a predetermined image format;   a receiving unit configured to receive, from the first video receiving apparatus, frequency information indicating a picture frequency representing the number of pictures displayed per unit time by the first video receiving apparatus, each of the pictures being (i) a top field or a bottom field that is included in interlaced video or (ii) a frame included in progressive video;   an arrangement unit configured to determine whether a picture frequency of the interlaced video received by the video transmitting-receiving apparatus is a same as the picture frequency indicated by the frequency information received from the first video receiving apparatus;   a coding unit configured to code the video outputted from the input unit to generate a stream;   a transmission unit configured to transmit the generated stream to the first video receiving apparatus;   a display unit configured to display the video obtained by the decoding;   a frequency obtainment unit configured to obtain whether a picture frequency representing the number of pictures displayed per unit time by the display unit corresponds to a 50 Hz television system or a 60 Hz television system, and to generate frequency information indicating the obtained picture frequency;   a transmission unit configured to transmit the generated frequency information to the first video transmitting apparatus; and   a decoding unit configured to receive, from the first video transmitting apparatus, a video stream coded by the first video transmitting apparatus based on the picture frequency indicated by the transmitted frequency information, and to decode the received video stream,   wherein the input unit is configured to (i) convert the interlaced video into progressive video and output the progressive video when the arrangement unit determines that the picture frequency of the video received by the video transmitting-receiving apparatus is different from the picture frequency indicated by the frequency information received from the first video receiving apparatus, and (ii) output the interlaced video with no change when the arrangement unit determines that the picture frequency of the video received by the video transmitting-receiving apparatus is the same as the picture frequency indicated by the frequency information received from the first video receiving apparatus, and   the display unit is configured to output the video obtained by the decoding performed by the decoding unit.   
     
     
         22 . A video transmitting method comprising:
 receiving interlaced video captured by a predetermined image pickup device and outputting video in a predetermined image format;   receiving, from a video receiving apparatus to which the received interlaced video is to be transmitted, frequency information indicating a picture frequency representing the number of pictures displayed per unit time by the video receiving apparatus, each of the pictures being (i) a top field or a bottom field that is included in interlaced video or (ii) a frame included in progressive video;   determining whether the picture frequency of the video received by the video transmitting apparatus is a same as the picture frequency indicated by the frequency information received from the video receiving apparatus;   (i) converting the received interlaced video into progressive video and outputting the progressive video when it is determined that the picture frequency of the interlaced video received by the video transmitting apparatus is different from the picture frequency indicated by the frequency information received from the video receiving apparatus, and (ii) outputting the received interlaced video with no change when it is determined that the picture frequency of the interlaced video is the same as the picture frequency indicated by the frequency information received from the video receiving apparatus;   coding one of the progressive video and the interlaced video that is outputted from the input unit to generate a stream; and   transmitting the generated stream to the video receiving apparatus.   
     
     
         23 . A video receiving method of receiving a video stream from a video transmitting apparatus and outputting video obtained by decoding the received video stream, the video receiving method comprising:
 obtaining whether a picture frequency representing the number of pictures displayed per unit time by a display unit corresponds to a 50 Hz television system or a 60 Hz television system, generating frequency information indicating the obtained picture frequency, and transmitting the generated frequency information to the video transmitting apparatus, each of the pictures being (i) a top field or a bottom field that is included in interlaced video or (ii) a frame included in progressive video;   receiving, from the video transmitting apparatus, a video stream coded by the video transmitting apparatus based on the picture frequency indicated by the transmitted frequency information;   decoding the received stream; and   displaying the video obtained by the decoding.   
     
     
         24 . A non-transitory computer-readable recording medium for use in a computer, the recording medium having a computer program recorded thereon for causing the computer to function as the units of the video transmitting apparatus according to  claim 13 .